September 19, 2010

WHAT TO DO?



In the past month I have won four international lotteries in countries I have nothing to do with, HOW LUCKY AM I? I have been offered three jobs in Canada by Asian firms that need my "financial knowledge and ability to handle large sums of money (so strange because I needed a tutor in college to pass my finance and accounting classes being non math inclined) that can flow through my own bank account, in which I can keep, get this "90% of all collections, some amounting in the past year to over $1,000,100 million US", (interesting that it adds the extra $100????)

I have been offered the fortunes of several royal families in Uganda and Somalia as well as s
o many other fortunes that I have yet to collect on... too little time and SO much money, what should I do?

So, just when I was about to start responding to all of these wonderful opportunities I get this email:
I'm writing this with tears in my eyes,my family and I came down here to London,England for a short vacation unfortunately we were mugged at the park of the hotel where we stayed,all cash,credit card and cell were stolen off us but luckily for us we still have our passports with us. We've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all and our flight leaves in few hrs from now but we're having problem settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let us leave until we settle the bills.. Patrice.

Since I am about to get so many fortunes, I feel obligated to send "Patrice" all of the money in my bank account. The problem is with my memory, I am having a hard time remembering how I know her?
Anyone who reads this that knows Patrice and or me, please help me help Patrice. Though I did think it was a bit weird that she didn't even address it to me personally with the emergency state of it and she sent it to UNDISCLOSED RECIPIENTS, which makes me wonder why she doesn't use my normal email address, Oh Well, I am sure she needs my money more than me. HELP?

September 15, 2010

The Gabriel Book Of World Records is OUT TODAY!


Gabriel Peters and his friends set out to attain their positions in history between the pages of the coveted record book through many attempts at the absurd (The World’s Largest Spit Pool) to the simply unattainable (World’s Largest Frog Farm). Gabe and his friends are up to their usual mischief. Along with the attempts to get into the book, a whole bunch of other adventures are included; a new member to the Secret Brotherhood named T-Bone Garza, Glenn The Sea Monkey comics begin, the discovery of the neighborhood’s own “Cruella DeVille”, more Ghost Indian sightings, an Ultimate Dare-Off which places the boys overnight in a haunted schoolhouse, a newly formed Boy Scout Troup, fishing, camping and many, many other explorations which will assure that the ADVENTURES CONTINUE!

What could be more compelling, mysterious or interesting than the people and feats contained within The Guinness World Book of Records? The irresistible gawking, rubbernecking and wonder that comes from the athletic feats and other human endeavors are food for thought enough, then add records for spitting, burping, growing extra long, gross fingernails and the book becomes a page burner (when a book is so great it is described as a page turner, when read even faster it becomes a page burner).


September 10, 2010

A tribute to those who LIVE life to the MAX!

After posting the other day about my buddy in a wheelchair, a friend who saw my blog sent me this clip and informed me that wheelchair is one word, not two, who knew?

Please watch this, it is inspirational and the next time I feel like complaining about a sore muscle or something minimal, I will come back here and watch this video!

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI_N5T3pmxQ&feature=player_embedded

What did you do today to add some excitement to your life?

September 9, 2010

Last night... magic...

I did a talk for a group of kids, teachers and parents at a school I have visited numerous times not far from my house. It was a pleasant evening as I mingled in the library and then was eagerly greeted by a young girl who clutched her copy of Ol' Lady Grizelda, which I had signed for her five years ago, when she "was a little kid, in 3rd grade" and now she was in middle school and "still really liked the book". She insisted I update her copy with another note and signature and then informed me my signature had changed (aka, gotten sloppy) and said, "See you in another five years." after we talked about the fact that she wanted to be a teacher. I envisioned another five years which meant I could see her again when she was student teaching in a classroom. WOW, time does keep ticking... I imagined her copy of Ol' Lady Grizelda going from a bedroom bookshelf to a classroom bookshelf and smiled. Maybe I would work on my penmanship, so my third signing of it would show improvement?

Soon we gathered in the music room where I told some stories, primarily stories upon which my books are based. As I explained the GP series and where the ideas came from I talked about how my main character Gabriel Peters (GP) begins in book one, Go Ask Mom, with some "strikes" against him, mostly physical, which draws attention and wrath from some school bullies and as a result Gabe is bullied and must find some solutions.

As I told the story I became quite aware of a young man sitting in a wheel chair listening intently to me talking about physical "shortcomings" that were causing Gabe some problems and wondered what he was thinking. He was holding a copy of Go Ask Mom so I knew he was very aware of the conflict in the book. He nodded in recognition as I told stories about Gabe's narcoleptic cat, his mean big brother who Gabe chased out of their shared bedroom one night with nothing more than a lot of imagination and a good, scary story and other adventures.

At the end of my talk it was question time and then it was time to go back to the library, to the book fair, to sign some books. My friend on wheels chimed in as did his mother, but more one on one as the others filed out to go back to the library. He, a really good-natured boy and a social ease recounted parts of the book he really liked. Mom and son both told me how reading Go Ask Mom together had brought them a lot of good times, where mom could recount her neighborhood adventures and how similar they were to Gabe's. My young friend told me how he had used the idea Gabe used to do something different to catch a bully of guard, using his words "like Gabe" to baffle. He simply said "sparkly wheels", because his wheelchair has a cool lighting gizmo, kind of like those tricked out cars that light the undercarriage at night and the bully didn't know how to react. He continued to just say that simple phrase whenever the bully would approach and it seemed to properly keep him off guard because soon it appeared as thought he bully wanted to befriend instead of be mean.

Later in the library, as they had me sign a copy of the sequel, The World According to Gabe, mom told me more stories about how they had connected to Gabe and she thanked me numerous times for writing the book. It seemed at that moment as if the reason for writing that book had been to help a young man in a wheelchair learn how to make the world work a little better and I felt a sense of pride nothing else could have brought. When my young friend wheeled up eagerly holding several toys (does every kid in the world think the book fair is a toy fair?) he was delighted to see mom had already had me sign the second book for him.

As he clutched the book close, he wheeled away, but over his shoulder he said, "I can't wait to see what happens next." I thought he was going to burst when I told him The Gabriel Book of World Records was coming out next week. I imagined mom and son cracking open his new prize at bedtime in just an hour or so and the "new" adventures of Gabe once again filling his bedroom.

As I drove home in the dark, with probably the last of summer evening warmth flowing over me, I was filled with a sense that I was really doing what I was put here to do: Writing stories, telling stories, living stories.

You never know when something you share with the rest of the world is going to make a difference. So, what story do you have that could be shared that would change someone in a small or big way?

September 2, 2010

Dear Alyssa,




http://alyssacares.org/alyssas-story.htm


Many of my pursuits and daily interactions are guided by the wisdom from parents who desire the very best for their children. Specifically my mother taught me on many occasions to "go out there and be a plus and never a minus'. It is very simple math. If you think about every "transaction" with another human as adding rather than subtracting it is really simple to know what to do. Never being good in math, I have always understood being a plus and try to be in my life and in my books.

I always want to add the love of reading, LAUGHTER, family bonding, interesting stories, a slightly different view to make one ponder and so many other things to my writing and publishing. I never want to subtract from a person's love of reading. That is why having learned about Alyssa, I have found a kindred spirit in her because of her zeal for the written word and STORY!

There are times when you meet people and you feel you were "meant to". I recently met Alyssa's father and spent time talking to him about his daughter, his cause, his heart. My heart hurt for this kind and spirited man as he told me of his loss. My heart zoomed when I realized what he and his family are doing to give the world a big plus thanks to Alyssa's passion. Many times it is easy to retreat, to withdraw and to anguish rather than to channel passion and love into something that is healing and helpful and a big PLUS for the rest of the world when someone feels the depth of sorrow this family has. I feel compelled to add to what they are doing!

So, I am asking anyone who reads this blog to consider what Alyssa's family and friends are trying to accomplish in this world, one book at a time, one story at a time, one school at a time, one child at a time. Literacy is one of the greatest keys to a future of hope. YOU can make a difference in the world you live in.

This is the FIRST time I have used my blog to promote a "cause" in three years. This one is just that important!

Essentially what the Alyssa Cares Foundation does is provide books to children who otherwise don't own them. Books free of charge as well as a heart warming message and passion for Alyssa's love of reading.

As an author, I am impressed and humbled by their efforts.
As a father, I am heartbroken and want to find a way to increase this lovely girl's legacy.
As a human being, I am interested in giving children, who for whatever circumstances they have no control over, a hand, a heart, a book, and a belief that
their story matters.

Please spend some time on the website and join me in promoting literacy through this lovely organization! YOU can certainly be a PLUS here!

http://alyssacares.org/alyssas-story.htm